This study tests whether vestibular therapy, a treatment focused on the inner ear balance system, can help improve balance and reduce fall risk in people with Alzheimer's disease. About two out of three Alzheimer's patients experience balance problems that increase their risk of falling. The goal is to see if specialized balance therapy can help prevent these falls and improve mobility.
Key Objective: This trial is testing whether vestibular therapy can improve balance stability and reduce falling risk in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Who to Consider: People diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease who experience balance problems or have concerns about falling should consider enrolling in this study.
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Nearly 2 out of 3 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) experience problems with balance and mobility, which places such patients at increased risk of falling. The vestibular (inner ear balance) system plays an important role in balance stability, and vestibular therapy (VT) is well-known to improve balance function in healthy older adults. In this study, the investigators will conduct a first-in-kind randomized clinical trial to evaluate whether vestibular therapy improves reduces falls in patients with AD, in whom this treatment has never been studied.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of AD based on the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer Association 2011 criteria that is mild-moderate (CDR=0.5-2). * Age ≥ 60 years. * Vestibular loss defined as bilaterally impaired vestibular responses (semicircular canal or otolith responses). * Able to participate in study procedures including vestibular physiologic testing, balance and gait assessment, neurocognitive testing, and VT or active control. * Able to give informed consent, as further detailed in the Human Subjects section. The investigators anticipate that individuals who are too impaired to provide informed consent would also not be able to effectively participate in VT or active control. * Presence of a caregiver, defined as an individual who spends at least 10 hours per week with the patient. The caregiver must be able to participate in study procedures, specifically the text-messaging system. Both the VT and active control involve 8 weeks of once weekly visits and daily home exerci